With the dearth of feral honey bee colonies since 2006, due primarily to the problem of colony collapse disorder, it is urgent for beekeepers to retrieve loose swarms to propagate them in their bee yards.

One-third of our fruit, vegetable and seed crops are dependent upon honeybee pollination. Fewer bees — less crops — higher costs. May and June are the main months for honeybee swarming from colonies that survived the winter and became overcrowded with the spring buildup. The queen and about half of her brood depart the colony to find a new home, leaving behind numerous queen cells and the other half of brood to continue the original colony. The swarm will alight on anything convenient — tree, bush, fence post, telephone pole, vehicle, fire hydrant, etc., to rest while scout bees are sent out to search for a new home.

Honeybee swarms are gorged with honey and quite docile if left undisturbed. In the event you see a honeybee swarm, on average a brown mass about the size of a basketball — some larger — some smaller, call the Oneida County Cooperative Extension at 736-3394 or the Herkimer County Cooperative Extension at 866-7920.

They will refer your call to a beekeeper in your area who will attempt to safely retrieve the swarm, moving it to his/her bee yard for further propagation and primary benefit of crop pollination.

CARL C. EGOLF
Mid-York Beekeepers Association

Let senators know you favor marriage equality

It is extremely disappointing that our own twice-elected state senator, Joseph Griffo, has once again fallen in lockstep with Sen. James Seward and other Republican senators, as well as several Democratic senators, to essentially block the modern-day civil rights battlefield issue, marriage equality for loving committed same-sex couples, from passing in New York.

Marriage equality has been around long enough that we can measure the lost revenue in the state and loss in competitive job markets. Not having equality is hurting New York state.

Couples that have lived together for decades are not allowed to be treated the same as their heterosexual neighbors, relatives, co-workers and friends because these lawmakers want to keep them oppressed as second-class citizens. In addition, families are being denied employment benefits, Social Security benefits, rights to ownership, survivors’ benefits, and forced to pay outrageous inheritance taxes. Without the protection of marriage, hurt and suffering goes on.

I urge every fair-minded citizen to call your senator and tell them that you and your whole family support equality today! This is a simple issue of our elected officials not respecting the rights of different types of people and families. Sen. Griffo: 793-9073; Sen. Seward: 866-1632. If we remain silent, they’ll think you side with bigotry and hatred and will have no motivation to respect differences and vote for equality.

JEFFREY K. STERLING
Utica

There’s another reason to collect cigarette tax

The American Lung Association agrees with the Observer-Dispatch’s view that Gov. Andrew Cuomo must be steadfast in his effort to collect taxes on cigarettes sold to the public at Native American reservations (May 13, Our view: Cuomo must stay firm on tobacco tax).

Each day these cigarette taxes go uncollected, the state not only loses revenue but misses opportunities to positively impact public health.

As long as these lower-cost untaxed cigarettes continue to be available in New York, it dilutes the effectiveness of last year’s increased state tax on cigarettes. Studies have repeatedly shown that as the price of a pack of cigarettes increases, so too does the number of people who choose to quit and, perhaps most importantly, fewer kids start smoking.

Each year in New York, 25,000 people die as a result of smoking. For economic reasons and for public health reasons, New York state desperately needs this uncollected revenue. We urge Gov. Cuomo to keep up his fight to collect these taxes. New Yorkers are depending on him.

IRWIN BERLIN, MD
Board chairman, American Lung Association, New York City

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